Explain The Influence Of Homers Odyssey On Margaret Atwood

Explain the influence of Homer’s Odyssey on Margaret Atwood. Margaret Atwood said that after reading The Odyssey she had two questions; â€Å"what led to the hanging of the maids and what was Penelope really up to?†. In writing The Penelopiad, she felt she was able to answer those questions. The Odyssey is from Odysseus’ point of view, recorded by Homer, but is not the only version of the story as it was mainly handed down through generations orally, which can lead to details being changed. She wanted to tell the story from a different angle, Penelope’s point of view. Homer’s Odyssey was a significant influence on Atwood. However, she also used other historical records of the story of Odysseus’ journey. â€Å"I have drawn on details other than the†¦show more content†¦She also wanted to tell the twelve maids’ story of their lives and the events leading up to their deaths. The Penelopiad was intended for a modern, young female audience. The Novella was written in recent times so the thought pr ocess around the value of women has change significantly. Women now have a more equal standing in society than they did when The Odyssey was recorded. This is demonstrated in the novella by Penelope’s intelligence and strong character. Explain reasons for the different portrayals of Odysseus, of Penelope and of the twelve maidservants. In The Odyssey, Odysseus is depicted as a strong, brave husband and father. He can sleep with whom he pleases, he hides some truth from his fellow men. â€Å"I did not mention the inescapable horror of Scylla, fearing that in their panic my men might stop rowing and huddle below decks.† Odysseus gets angry when he returns home after twenty years of being away and the Suitors are in his home, courting his wife. Odysseus is the king of Ithaca, he is the father of Telemachus and husband of Penelope. Odysseus is described as an excellent warrior and a brave hero. â€Å"You are hard, man, Odysseus. Your force is greater, your limbs ever wear out. You must be made all of Iron.† He is the paterfamilias of the household. In The Penelopiad, Penelope talks about their wedding night where Odysseus says â€Å"Forget everything you’ve been told†¦ I’m not going to hurt you, or not very much. But it would help us both if